ESTEVAN — New to the community, new to the organization, but definitely not new to the field.
Starting Aug. 9, Tye Dandridge-Evancio took over the position of director/curator with the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum, bringing in much experience and talent.
An artist and an art curator, Dandridge-Evancio came to Estevan from Morden, Man., where he worked as the program, exhibitions and outreach co-ordinator for the Pembina Hills Arts Council.
The Mercury and SaskToday spoke to Dandridge-Evancio shortly after he came to Estevan.
"It's been really nice; I've been really enjoying getting settled into the town. Everyone's been very nice, very patient, very supportive, very open and excited, which is honestly more than I could have hoped for," Dandridge-Evancio said.
"It's really been wonderful, and I've been really pleased with what I've seen in the facility, but also in the community. There's clearly a very vibrant and passionate arts community out here with the Arts Council, the Art Gallery and Museum, and the murals. There's lots going on, and I'm very excited to delve in and get to know everyone," he added.
Dandridge-Evancio also praised Estevan's pathways and the beauty of some areas he already had a chance to enjoy.
He earned his bachelor of fine arts from the University of Lethbridge and an master's of fine arts from the University of Regina. When in Lethbridge, he participated in a student-run exhibition and took a lot of curatorial art classes, learning all about putting together arts events. That experience inspired Dandridge-Evancio to apply and get a position with Wasagaming Community Arts in Clear Lake and Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba, which he held for five years.
"It was seasonal, but we would do a show every three weeks … It was hectic, but it was a lot of fun and it was super worth it. I learned a lot of valuable experience during my time there," Dandridge-Evancio shared.
After completing his master's in 2021, he started looking for a place where he could practise his knowledge, and a position at Pembina Hills Arts Council was the answer to his call.
"Another really wonderful experience with a community that was super passionate about the arts, and I got to do a lot of different programming and different exhibitions that I'd never in a million years done before," Dandridge-Evancio said, noting that wearing many hats helped him grow as a professional.
"Art these days can be and should be so much more than just a show. There are workshops, artists' talks, different events that expose people to art and even give them a chance to make art themselves. [Having many responsibilities] gave me an arsenal of [options] that I can offer to artists to help them get their work out into the community."
When an opening in Estevan came up, he decided to try to secure a job that would allow him to do what he likes the most full-time, and he was successful.
"I'm super passionate about art and art curation and working with artists full-time. So, I've had my ear to the pavement and I heard about Estevan. And honestly, when I looked up the gallery, I was like, 'Holy cow, this is a really nice place,'" Dandridge-Evancio recalled.
He said his transition to Estevan went very smoothly as the board was very supportive and former director/curator Amber Andersen had everything well-organized.
"You never know what to expect when you're entering a new environment; everyone's different and everyone's idea of organization is different. But the board was really helpful. Karly [Garnier, education, outreach and programming co-ordinator] has also been super supportive every step of the way. And I also was able to meet with Amber, and it honestly was just like a weight off my shoulders, because obviously there's stuff for me to do as well, but they definitely have set me up for success, and I'm very grateful for that," Dandridge-Evancio shared.
"They don't have to do that at all, but they did because they care about the gallery and they also care about continuing to offer such excellent programming. So, it definitely has made it possible for me to focus now on what shows we're going to be getting in 2025-26, further down the line."
Dandridge-Evancio is also an artist. In his personal art practice, he frequently works with various forms of print media, such as Linocut and Pochoir printmaking, as well as traditional media including gouache watercolour. He said that while he enjoys creating, he enjoys working with other artists just as much, trying to understand their art and finding ways to open it up to a broader audience.
Dandridge-Evancio is passionate about supporting and promoting fellow artists in sharing their artistic vision with the world. He enjoys long walks on the beach, obsessing over whether artwork installation is level or not, and fried chicken, and said he is excited about his new journey.
"I'm really excited to be out here. Estevan is a really beautiful community. I know I've got big shoes to fill with Amber, but I'm determined and excited to be able to continue the history of excellent programming that's been offered here," Dandridge-Evancio said.
